SEATTLE — When you ask major league scouts at ballparks around the country what they’re looking for, nine times out of 10 they’ll say “bullpen help.’’
Count the Red Sox among them.
This revelation is not just due to the implosion of the bullpen in Friday night’s 8-7 loss to the Mariners, when Heath Hembree offered up a home run to .211-hitting Mike Zunino in the seventh and Matt Barnes coughed up a lead in the eighth, allowing a two-run double to Denard Span. It’s just the fact that bullpens dominate the game now. The teams that go deep into the postseason will have airtight bullpens, and airtight is usually hard to come by.
The Red Sox bullpen has been very good this season. There have been hiccups such as Friday night’s when neither Joe Kelly nor Craig Kimbrel was available because of recent overuse. Every team has those games when their top guys aren’t available, but Barnes has been one of those top guys. He’s drawn rave reviews, as had Hembree from scouts who have watched both. They both rate high in terms of stuff yet every once in a while they get hit.
The Red Sox are waiting for Tyler Thornburg to take his rightful place in the pen, but even when he returns there’s going to be a period in which he pitches in low-leverage situations so he can get his bearings. Nobody knows how well he’ll perform after more than a year layoff since the Red Sox acquired him from the Brewers. The four-player package, which included third baseman Travis Shaw, seemed like a hefty amount to give up for a reliever, so the expectations for Thornburg are lofty.
The rest of the Sox bullpen is comprised of Hector Velazquez, Brian Johnson, Brandon Workman, and Justin Haley.
The Red Sox and the rest of the contending teams are looking for upgrades to their bullpen. Most teams are trying to get by with their own relievers and those in their farm system before they have to pony up a prospect or two to acquire a front-line reliever. The Red Sox have their scouts looking for sure.
The ones who may fit? There are many possibilities but some are unrealistic. Brad Hand in San Diego would be perfect, but the Padres aren’t going to let him go without an exaggerated haul. Here are 10 of the more realistic possibilities:
■ Kelvin Herrera, RH, Royals — The closer could be a perfect fit as a setup man with Kelly for the Red Sox. Herrera is also a free agent after the season. He’s 1-1 with a 1.05 ERA with 14 saves and two blown saves. He’s struck out 22 batters and walked only two in 25⅓ innings.
■ Zach Britton, LH, Orioles — Britton just returned from his long rehab from Achilles’ surgery and he’s slowly working his way back. Britton was one of the best closers in the game until arm and leg injuries got the best of him the past two years. But he’s healthy now and will be in demand. He would be a very good pickup for the Red Sox because he’s lefthanded, which other than Johnson they don’t have in their bullpen.
■ Kyle Barraclough, RHP, Marlins — Barraclough has had a nice season (0-1, 1.15 ERA) and has become Miami’s closer. He’s young and will be eligible for arbitration for the first time in the offseason, which makes him an attractive piece.
■ Joakim Soria, RH, White Sox — Dave Dombrowski had him in Detroit. He’s always been a solid late-inning reliever, and this season is no different (0-2, 3.12). He is pricey at $9 million but that would be prorated to the point where he was acquired.
■ Blake Treinen, RH, Athletics — He’s having an excellent year as the A’s closer. With Oakland drifting out of contention, he’s likely to be available. Treinen has a 0.87 ERA with 14 saves. He’d make a good setup man.
■ Shane Greene, RH, Tigers — Detroit’s closer has 18 saves and is 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA. The former Yankee has really come into his own the past two seasons. Players will tell you how tough he is to hit against.
■ Craig Stammen, RH, Padres — He has a 2.24 ERA and has pitched well out of the Padres’ pen.
■ Kirby Yates, RH, Padres — He is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA and has done a terrific job as a middle reliever. He would fit in well in the middle of the Sox bullpen.
■ Tyler Clippard, RH, Blue Jays — The veteran has had a solid season. Clippard doesn’t wow you with velocity but he gets weak contact with his stuff. Clippard has been with eight teams and served in various roles. Nobody has kicked him out of the league yet.
■ Brad Brach, RH, Orioles — The Orioles would want a lot in return for their setup man. Brach has had some poor outings, but they appear to be more a case of pitching for a team that’s going nowhere. He was the Orioles’ closer in Britton’s absence the last two seasons.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.
